The latest news, guides and special offers from Ray Mears and Woodlore

A Summer Treat

The following post and accompanying photos were kindly put together by Sarah Day of our Field Staff team:

Foraging for fungi and the resulting activity in the kitchen is often thought of as an autumn pursuit; not so. Chicken of the woods (sulphur polypore/Laetiporus sulphureus) is one of many types of fungi that appear over the summer. This particular fungus often appears in late June, rather obligingly in the same place year after year; its dead whitish fruitbodies signposting the way to next years crop.

Laetiporus sulphureus, commonly known as ‘Chicken of the woods’

It’s impressive to behold; bright yellow brackets with peachy orange highlights, often growing in quite large groups. It grows on a lot of different trees too – broad leafs like Willow, Alder, Oak, Beech to name but a few and some conifers (particularly yew apparently!).

Unfortunately the fungus eventually kills the tree it grows on, turning the heartwood to a brown mess- so not exactly a never ending supply! It is delicious though; I like to slice it thinly, fry it up with bacon and liver and have it on toast.

There are many other fungi around during the summer, some edible, some distinctly not, but all fascinating. So keep your eyes open, and a field guide handy and you might be in for a culinary treat (or a really interesting photo!).